Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-11-24
THEIR LITTLE SCHEME
WHAT COUNTY HEALTH OFFICER MYERS
HAS To SAY
About the Scheme 10 Make the Council Health CON-
mitiee Board Of Hsalth-Will the Members
Resign IS oouneilmen?

Its remembered that the City Council
at its meeting Tuesday evening, instructed
the Council Committee on Health to draw
up an ordinance to constitute themselves
and the City Health Officer a City Board
of Health, and extending their duties and
powers to the sanitary affairs which come
under the jurisdiction of the County Board
of Health.
In conversation about the matter with
DR.. E. C. Myers, County Health Officer,
yesterday, REGISTER reporter asked:
what is the true inwardness of this
action, Doctor"
"There appears TO he determined eff
fort, 4" said he, ION the part of the Council
Committee on Health to interfere
with the County Health Board and
prevent the efficiency of the law which
established these boards throughout the
State and delegated to them certain powers
/ do not understand why they should try
to assume the duties of the County Board
unless it be political jealousy. 1t certainly
cannot be that they are doing the work
which the City has set apart for them, so
we'll that they should try to assume the
duties OF the County Board also. At the
joint meeting sometime since when the
County Board was asked to confer with the
City committee the latter expressed them
selves as so hostile TO the County
Board that they would not allow
them to have any jurisdiction inside tue
city limits, even if it neeessitated a change
of the city ordinances.
what was their reason for this?"
"They gave no reasons for this opposition
except that they thought they could take
care of the city themselves. There was no
objection to this on the part OF the county
board so long as they confined themselves
to the city ordinances. But the county
board did object TO them trying to assume
that they were the city Board of Health, and
that they have right to confer upon MEM
bers all the powers of the county board.
Owing to the fact that the State law con.
stitutes the boards OF health
which already exist in the cities
and towns, auxiliaries To the
State Board OF Health, aud conftrs upon
them certain powers. This Council COM
mittee with its usual amount Of selt-asser-
ton says that refers TO them, and they
propose to run things TO suit themselves.
1t is quite evident that they have yielded
this point, from the fact that they are try
ing to get Council TO make them the City
Board OF Health"
what will be the effect of this proceed
ing?'
well, if they wish to resign as members
of Council, in order 10 become members of
the Board of Health, they can of course do
so, hut they cannot be both according TO
the city ordinances. Another thing |
wish to refer to, is the fact that there
is a desire on the part of some
TO crush ost this county board, because
they have shown desire to enforce this
law and give the people throughout the
county the benefits to be derived there
from. There will probably be another
effort before the County Board of Commits
sioncrs to kill it. But it will be q little
strange il those representatives, especially
from the country districts, will allow
themselves to be deprived of this protec-
ton TO their families and domestic animals
and homes in general, without having
some better reason than that we city
folks propose to run things to suit our
selves And there is another important
thing that appears to be disturbing the
minds of some, on account of little extra
trouble it causes, and that is the report Of
vital statistics and contagious diseases. 1t
is Of the highest importance that these
things should be known, and they Can be
il the Board receives the proper support
from the County Court. But we shall see
what we shall see. Good day."
Good day, Doctor"